Lawrence Arts Commission
Minutes of July 11, 2007
Present: Evie Rapport, chair; Donna Griffin; Elizabeth Hatchett; Tom King;
David Loewenstein; Margaret Moore; John Reeves; James Schaefer; Leslie vonHolten; Sandra Wiechert.
Absent: none
Staff Liaison: Michael Tubbs
Audience: KT Walsh
A. The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Evie Rapport, at 7:15 pm in the Jayhawk Conference Room of Fire Station #5.
B. The Minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting as prepared by acting secretary Tom King were distributed. The Minutes were accepted as corrected.
C. Evie Rapport, chair, made three announcements:
1. Laura Jost has been appointed to fill out the term of Liz Kowalchuk. Jost’s term will expire in January 2008, at which time she will be eligible for reappointment.
2. The Arts Commission August meeting has been moved to August 15th from August 8th, due to some commissioners’ summer schedules.
3. She asked Commissioner Schaefer to make his announcement. He stated he is moving to Philadelphia in August. He has served on the Commission for two and one-half years and regrets he must resign at this time. He plans to return to Lawrence at a later date.
D. Commission chair Rapport said she would read two letters concerning the relocating of the repaired Prayer Booth from this year’s Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibit. Commissioners could then sign either one, or neither. She would personally deliver both letters to City Manager Dave Corliss with copies to the Mayor, Sue Hack. There would be no discussion or questions permitted, as abundant discussion had taken place at the June 13th meeting and as all had had a chance to read drafts of both letters as prepared by Tom King and by herself. She read the letters and they were passed around for signatures.
KT Walsh was then allowed to address commissioners. She said she was sorry to see the Arts Commission so torn apart by opinions on this matter. She had hoped Prayer Booth could have stayed in front of the Eldridge, saying that would send a clear message to artists that their artistic intentions would be honored. She hoped the LAC would research how public art is treated and handled elsewhere. She was appalled that no discussion was allowed at this meeting, either by commissioners or by her, prior to signing the letters.
Commissioner Reeves asked if these two letters with their signatures will be a part of the July Minutes. Commissioner Rapport said they would be.
Commissioners Griffin and King moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 7:45 pm. The motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Wiechert, Secretary